This AASHE project is to identify potential energy savings on campus. For each project, the students will identify available technologies to improve the campus efficiency, the potential energy savings per technology, and then estimate the cost of implementation. This will provide an investment rate of return for each concept. The students will then complete an implementation plan/strategy, and present it to the administration. The following sections give a brief explanation of each of the proposed projects. Additional projects will be proposed as they are identified.
2.1. Parasitic Power Reduction
In the view of most consumers, modern electronic devices operate on 110 volt AC power from the wall. This in not the case. Most electrical devices actually operate on DC power, typically 12 volt. In all computers, monitors, printers, faxes, scanners, televisions, DVD’s, stereos, fluorescent lights, and other consumer electrics, the AC power is converted to DC power by the use of a transformer. In all of these electronic devices, when they are turned off, the switch is on the DC side of the transformer, not the AC side. This is to save on the cost of the switch, but results in the transformer remaining powered at all times. Many transformers consumer as nearly much power when the device is switched “off” as when it is in the “on” state, and this power consumption is nearly half of the total power consumption for the device. Studies in Germany have shown that the power bill for the average consumer can be cut by a third if all of the transformers in the home are disconnected. The results of these studies are that “Green Switch” technologies have been adopted in many European states. This technology consist of a master switch install at the door which turns off the power to all the power sockets in the residence that are not connected to critical devices. The result is that the transformers in the home entertainment center and computer are turned off, but the pet fish tank, refrigerator, and home heating unit remain on. It is proposed that a system similar to this can be implemented on Campus, resulting in large power savings, potentially up to one third of the campus power consumption. The way the system would work is similar to the Honeywell system. Each socket in the room not attached to a critical device is replaced with a radio frequency switched socket. The motion sensors used in the rooms on campus already are on a 15 minute time delay and can be used to shut off not only the lights, but the power sockets as well. The downside to implementing this program is that the Information Technology department uploads new software at night. Having the power turned off on the PC’s will prevent this from happening, increasing the risk of virus attach on campus. The key to implementing this program is using the features of the new PC’s. First of all, all of the machines purchased in the last 2 years have the ability to be turned on remotely. To upload the new software and patches, IT could transmit a radio frequency to power on the rooms, turn on the PC’s remotely, upload the software, power down the PC’s and then turn off the room. This program will require an investment in software and some hardware per room. The stages necessary for this program are described below.
2.1.1. Green Switch Development and Testing
Under this program, the students will convert one room on campus to a green switch room and study the effects on user performance. The will work with the vendors to find the right combination of hardware and software to create a system that will be transparent to the faculty and students.
2.1.2. Green Switch Implementation Cost Benefit Analysis
With the completion of the prototype room, business students within the club will conduct a cost / rate of return study. Marketing student will look at the potential rate of return on GU’s image, being the first campus in the US to fully implement a Green Switch program. The results of these studies will then be present to the administration to assist then in determining the benefit of implementation versus the cost.
2.1.3. Green Switch Adoption Pilot Program
The next stage will be to convert on building on campus as a pilot program. With any new program, there are likely to be “bugs” that need to be worked out before wide scale implementation. By upgrading one building, the full impact can be seen and the results of the analysis compared to actual data.
2.1.4. Full Implementation of the Green Switch Program
With the success of the pilot program, the next stage will be to convert all of campus to the green switch. This will requires a significant investment in both time and resources, with the cost to be determined. It is hoped that the net result will be a more efficient campus.
2.2. Motion Sensors in All Rooms
Motion sensors have been installed in the majority of offices on campus. It has been shown that these simple devices are true energy savers. A review of all of the offices, classrooms and dorm rooms on campus is needed to verify the installation of these switches. There is two reasons for this review. One is the obvious direct energy savings, the other is that these switches are the key element of the green energy switch project described below.
2.3. Educating Users On Storing Electronic Files
This project is a user education project that is key to the implementation of the green switch program. Many faculty currently store their files on their local drives. This requires them to leave their office machines running so that they can log in remotely and access their data from home. The principle of the green switch program is to keep these machines off when not in direct use. Therefore, faculty and staff will need to be shown the advantages of storing their data on the severs instead of their office PC.
2.4. Thermal Control Program
An area of energy conservation not often recognized by many users of an institution is thermal control. A walk around campus during the winter months will quickly show many areas where improvements can be made. These areas are fully realized by our building supervisors, but often the solution to the problem is complicated by employees and students not aware of their actions. There are two areas where the students of AASHE have indentified where they can help.
2.4.1. Edutcation of Students and Faculty on Thermal Control
In the winter of 2007-2008, members of AASHE discussed some of the areas on campus where we saw blatant wastes of energy. One area that seemed the biggest violator is the open classroom windows in the middle of February. When students worked late in the Herak center, they cracked opened the windows of the classrooms and study areas because they felt that the air was “stuffy” and had the smell of a locker room. When they left for the night, they failed to close the window. When the HVAC system started it morning warm up cycle, its thermal load was increased in some rooms. The imbalance resulted in some of the classroom being over heated. First had experience by the author has found some of the rooms over 80 degrees at 8:00 am, resulting in more windows being open and more energy being wasted. In a two week period of February of 2008, window were found opening into Keck Courtyard 10 out of 14 days. Examples such as this, and office employees with personal heaters under their desk, make the job of balancing the HVAC system nearly impossible. The AASHE student want to try to work with plant services to educate the students, staff, and faculty on campus about how their actions can dramatically increase the cost of heating a building during the winter.
2.4.2. Temperature Stabilization – Review of Technology
In recent years, thermal control equipment of buildings has greatly increased in versatility. Older systems were only capable of binary control of on or off. Later systems included linear ramped and stepped control. Modern microprocessor controlled systems with feedback can control a build much more efficiently. The AASSHE members want to help the university to conduct a survey of the control systems, and work with physical plant to find systems that could be upgraded or improved. Additionally Honeywell has a program for energy efficiency where they come to an institution and conduct a full building by building analysis, helping the institution identify ways they can save money on power consumption.
